Mercury and Fish: What's the Deal?

Mercury and Fish: What's the Deal?

I've heard people say that pregnant women shouldn't eat a lot of fish because of the mercury content. What's so bad about mercury and why is it in fish?

Although fish contain high-quality protein and other essential nutrients, are low in saturated fat, and contain omega-3 fatty acids, nearly all fish and shellfish contain traces of mercury.

Mercury occurs naturally in the environment, and can also be released into the air from pollution. The mercury falls from the air and accumulates in oceans, lakes, and rivers. Fish absorb the mercury since they live and feed in these waters, and the mercury builds up their bodies. That's why larger fish are the ones to watch out for when it comes to mercury, because they've had more time to accumulate it.

Some fish and shellfish contain higher levels of mercury that may harm an unborn baby or young child's developing nervous system. That's why nursing mothers, women who are pregnant, and those who are trying to become pregnant are advised to watch their mercury intake.

For everyone, elevated levels of mercury can lead to nervous system problems with brain or nerve damage. Mercury levels can be measured by blood tests, or tests using hair.

If you regularly eat types of fish that are high in mercury, it can accumulate in your blood stream over time too. The body naturally removes it, but it may take over a year for levels to drop back to normal. That's why it's important for women who are trying to get pregnant to think about their mercury intake beforehand.

ksc, that's funny! I actually wonder where stuff like that comes from.If you eat "fresh" fish (straight from the water) you can usually go to your state's DNR site and they have mercury levels posted...I know MN and WI do!I don't eat fish at all, I was surprised (I don't know why) that fish sticks had mercury...I guess I just assumed they weren't really fish!

ksc, that's funny! I actually wonder where stuff like that comes from.
If you eat "fresh" fish (straight from the water) you can usually go to your state's DNR site and they have mercury levels posted...I know MN and WI do!
I don't eat fish at all, I was surprised (I don't know why) that fish sticks had mercury...I guess I just assumed they weren't really fish!

The mercury gets stuck in the fat of the fish, so when the fish is cooked, the concentration of mercury is higher because of the lack of water in the cooked fish.Gives me more of a reason to eat sushi/sashimi :-)~M~

The mercury gets stuck in the fat of the fish, so when the fish is cooked, the concentration of mercury is higher because of the lack of water in the cooked fish.
Gives me more of a reason to eat sushi/sashimi :-)
~M~

Fun fact about mercury: It was widely used in the making of felt, which in turn was incorporated into many formal hats. As a result of the intense levels of mercury they were exposed to, many milliners developed dementia, hence the phrase "mad as a hatter".

I bummed because two of my favorites--halibut and tuna--are my favorites. I'm not too upset, though, because tend not to have it too often, except when I visit relatives in Alaska (which, due to the pricey ticket only happens once every several years), in which case I eat it several times a week because it is so good there! Really, I'd be way more concerned about this if I lived in the Pacific northwest where fish is soooo good.

Sandra Steingraber wrote a great book called "Having Faith" that talks a lot about this issue. She wrote it about the during and after of her pregnancy with her daughter and its a great tie between biology and the environment. I recommend it if you're interested in things like this!